‘That’ll make too much noise,’ replied Miyuki.

Jack felt a tug on his sleeve. Neko was pointing to a slatted window beneath the eaves. It was just wide enough for her to slip through. With Jack and Hayato’s help, she clambered up and inside. A few moments later, the door slid open.

Good work! signed Jack.

Neko signed back, Easy!

Sora held up the bandit’s lamp. The storehouse was packed to the rafters with goods of all kind. Bales of rice, saké barrels, dried fish, lamp oil, swathes of cloth, spears, swords, several muskets and gunpowder. The spoils of countless raids.

‘Must you destroy all this?’ asked Sora, his eyes hungrily taking in the mounds of rice.

‘I’m afraid so,’ said Hayato. ‘An army marches on its stomach. This will be a serious blow to Akuma and his men.’

‘But won’t he just go on the rampage? Take everything we have?’

‘Whatever happens, Akuma intends to raid your village next,’ reminded Jack. ‘But this time, you’ll be ready for him. And we’ll put a stop to his attacks, once and for all.’

‘Besides, we’ll use the oil lamp to make it look like an accident,’ said Miyuki, taking the light from Sora. She went over and examined the weaponry. ‘But first we’ll steal back some of this.’

She rolled out two small casks of gunpowder and a large ceramic jar of lamp oil.

‘We can’t carry those,’ said Hayato. ‘They’ll slow us down.’

‘You’re right – we need to make a quick escape,’ said Jack and turned to Sora. ‘Go and free the horses, but keep five of the best for us to ride. Plus one more to carry the supplies and a bale or two of rice for the village.’

Sora seemed satisfied at this. Jack signed for Neko to help the old farmer and the two of them hurried out and across the yard to the stables. A short while later, Jack heard whinnying and hoped the noise wouldn’t wake any of the bandits.

Hayato picked up a flint-and-steel firelighter and a spare jar of lamp oil. ‘I’ll set fire to the bunkhouse, while you two finish up here. Akuma deserves a fiery awakening!’

‘We’ll meet you by the trees,’ said Jack. ‘And don’t wait around! I want us to be long gone when all this goes up in flames.’

Hayato nodded in acknowledgement.

‘Be careful,’ said Miyuki.

Hayato glanced back, surprised at her apparently sincere concern. ‘You too.’

Then he disappeared into the night.

Miyuki selected a few more supplies and Jack hauled them outside. She then cast lamp oil over the walls and floor before running a line of gunpowder to the door. Neko reappeared with the horses and Jack hurriedly loaded them up.

‘You go ahead,’ said Miyuki. ‘I’m nearly done.’